Polyether polymers derived from 3,4-epoxy-1-butene and hydroxyl initiator

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are novel polyether compounds obtained by the reaction or polymerization of 3,4-epoxy-1-butene in the presence of an onium iodide compound such as an ammonium or phosphonium iodide, an organotin compound such as a trihydrocarbyltin iodide, and a nucleophilic initiator compound. The polyether compounds comprise n units of residue (1) and m units of residue (2), wherein the total value of n+m is 2 to 70, m/(n+m) is greater than 0.75 and up to 0.98, and residues (1) and (2) have the structures: ##STR1##

This is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 08/181,733, filed Jan. 18, 1994, abandoned.

The preparation of the novel polyether compounds of the present invention and the operation of the process are further illustrated by the following example. Proton NMR spectra are obtained on a Varian Gemini 300 MHz spectrometer with samples dissolved in deuterated chloroform containing tetramethylsilane as an internal standard. The value of m/(n+m) is determined by comparison of the integrated proton NMR absorptions of residues (1) and (2). Number average molecular weights (M_(w) /M_(n)) are determined using size-exclusion chromatography with refractive index detection in tetrahydrofuran using four 10 μm PLgel mixed-bed columns and calibrated using narrow molecular weight distribution polystyrene standards. Hydroxyl numbers are determined from titration of the acetic acid formed by the reaction of the sample with acetic anhydride. Distillates are analyzed by gas chromatography on a Hewlett-Packard 5890A gas chromatograph with a DB5-30W capillary column; temperature program 35° C. (4.5 minutes), 20° C./minute to 260° C. (hold 6 minutes). J-resolved NMR and ¹³ C NMR analyses are obtained from a Jeol 400 MHz NMR spectrometer.

EXAMPLE

Tris(2-methyl-2-phenylpropyl)tin iodide [also known as trineophyltin iodide] (33.8 g), tri-n-octyl(n-octadecyl)phosphonium iodide (39.0 g), and 1,4-butanediol (10.0 g) are placed in a 250-mL, four-neck, round-bottom flask equipped with a thermocouple, magnetic stirrer, distillation head, oil heating bath, and reactant feed tube. The mixture is heated to 110° C., and the 3,4-epoxy-1-butene addition is begun. A total of 816 g of 3,4-epoxy-1-butene is added over 44 hours. The pressure within the flask is gradually lowered to about 100 torr to completely distill the volatile components from the catalyst/polyether polymer residue. A total of 648.5 g of distillate is collected (79.5% weight recovery). The composition of the distillate is 21.1% 3,4-epoxy-1-butene, 75.3% 2,5-dihydrofuran, and 3.6% crotonaldehyde.

The catalyst/polyether polymer residue and 200 mL of heptane are added to a 500-mL, jacketed, glass vessel equipped with a mechanical stirrer, thermocouple, and bottom stopcock and the mixture is agitated and heated to 65°-75° C. by circulating heated glycol/water from a constant temperature bath to the jacket. Stirring is discontinued, and the mixture is allowed to settle. The layers are separated, and the bottom polyether polymer layer is extracted again with 200 mL of heptane then once more with 100 mL of heptane. The heptane layers containing the extracted catalyst are combined, and the solvent is removed by rotary vacuum evaporation (up to about 70° C. and 30 torr) to give a catalyst-containing material (80.3 g) with the following approximate composition by weight: 31.1% tris(2-methyl-2-phenylpropyl)tin iodide, 54.9% tri-n-octyl(n-octyldecyl)phosphonium iodide, and 13.9% polyether polymer. The recovered catalyst mixture can be returned to the reaction flask for continued cycles of polymerization and catalyst separation. After removal of residual volatile material by rotary vacuum evaporation (up to about 70° C. and 30 torr) the polyether polymer layer weighs 149.4 g (18.3% yield) and has n+m equal to about 11, m/(n+m)=0.94, and M_(w) /M_(n) =1.59. J-resolved NMR and ¹³ C NMR analyses of the polyether polymer product in deuterated acetone show no evidence of secondary hydroxyl carbons.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications will be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention. 

We claim:
 1. Process for the preparation of a polyether polymer with terminal primary hydroxyl groups which comprises contacting 3,4-epoxy-1-butene with an hydroxyl organic initiator compound in the presence of a catalyst system comprising an onium iodide and an organotin iodide compound, wherein (i) the polyether polymer is comprised of n units of residue (1) and m units of residue (2), wherein the total value of n+m is 2 to 70 and m/(n+m) is greater than 0.75 and up to 0.98, (ii) the polyether compound comprises at least 1 weight percent of the residue of the hydroxyl organic initiator compound, and (iii) residues (1) and (2) have the structures: ##STR2## and at least 95 percent of the terminal hydroxyl groups are primary hydroxyl groups.
 2. Process according to claim 1 wherein the process is carried out at a temperature of about 40° to 150° C.; the organic initiator compound is selected from the group consisting of mono-hydroxy alcohol and poly-hydroxy initiator compounds; the onium iodide compound is a tetra(hydrocarbyl)ammonium iodide or a tetra(hydrocarbyl)phosphonium iodides having a total carbon atom content of about 16 to 72 carbon atoms and formula: ##STR3## wherein each R¹ substituent independently is selected from alkyl of up to about 20 carbon atoms and each R² substituent is independently selected from R¹, benzyl, phenyl or phenyl substituted with up to 3 substituents selected from lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or halogen; or two R¹ substituents collectively may represent alkylene of 4 to 6 carbon atoms including alkylene of 4 to 6 carbon atoms substituted with lower alkyl; andthe organotin iodide compound has the formula:

    (R.sup.3).sub.(4-n) --Sn--I

wherein each R³ independently is selected from alkyl or substituted alkyl moieties having up to about 20 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl or substituted cycloalkyl having about 5 to 20 carbon atoms, carbocyclic aryl or substituted carbocyclic aryl having about 6 to 20 carbon atoms, or heteroaryl or substituted heteroaryl moieties having about 4 up to 20 carbon atoms; and n is 1, 2, or
 3. 3. Process for the preparation of a polyether polymer with terminal primary hydroxyl groups which comprises contacting 3,4-epoxy-1-butene with an hydroxyl organic initiator compound in the presence of a catalyst system comprising tris(2-methyl-2-phenylpropyl)tin iodide and tri-n-octyl(n-octadecyl)phosphonium iodide, wherein the polyether polymer is comprised of n units of residue (1) and m units of residue (2), wherein (i) the total value of n+m is 2 to 70 and m/(n+m) is in the range of about 0.90 and 0.98, (ii) the polyether compound comprises at least 1 weight percent of the residue of the hydroxyl organic initiator compound, and (iii) residues (1) and (2) have the structures: ##STR4## and at least 95 percent of the terminal hydroxyl groups are primary hydroxyl groups.
 4. Process according to claim 3 carried out at a temperature of about 40° to 150° C. wherein the mole ratio of the tri-n-octyl(n-octadecyl)phosphonium iodide to tris(2-methyl-2-phenylpropyl)tin iodide is about 20:1 to 0.05:1 and the organic initiator compound is selected from mono-hydroxy alcohol and poly-hydroxy initiator compounds.
 5. Process for the preparation of a polyether polymer with terminal primary hydroxyl groups which comprises contacting at 80° to 110° C. 3,4-epoxy-1-butene with an hydroxyl organic initiator compound in the presence of a catalyst system comprising tris(2-methyl-2-phenylpropyl)tin iodide and tri-n-octyl(n-octadecyl)phosphonium iodide, the polyether polymer is comprised of n units of residue (1) and m units of residue (2), wherein (i) the total value of n+m is 7 to 50 and m/(n+m) is in the range of about 0.90 and 0.95, (ii) the polyether compound comprises about 5 to 20 weight percent of residues of the formula --O--R⁵ --wherein R⁵ is alkylene of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, (iii) residues (1) and (2) constitute at least 90 weight percent of the polymer, (iv) at least 95 percent of the terminal hydroxyl groups are primary hydroxy groups, (v) the polymer has a polydispersity value of 1 to 1.7, (vi) the mole ratio of the tri-n-octyl(n-octadecyl)phosphonium iodide to tris(2-methyl-2-phenylpropyl)tin iodide is about 5:1 to 0.02:1, and (vii) residues (1) and (2) have the structures: ##STR5## 